Display processing system, and portable terminal and conversion adaptor used therefor

• US 6,781,635 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Takeda, Genyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M.
• Application Number:
  US09/637,084
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 348/552, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.04, 348/838, 702/3, 702/63, 455/556, 455/557, 455/550, 455/572, 455/573
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A display processing system 10 includes a portable phone 20, a conversion adaptor 40, a controller 50, and a television monitor 60. When the portable phone 20 is attached to the conversion adaptor 40 to be connected therewith and receives a display switching signal from the controller 50, the CPU 23 supplies image display data to a video memory 44 and supplies audio data to an audio buffer 46. Thereby, the television monitor 60 displays an image and a speaker of the television monitor 60 outputs audio. In this manner, it is possible to display, on a large screen of the television monitor 60, game images based on game data, and various kinds of characters and symbols such as news, weather report, fortune-telling, or the like, received from information providing servers by the portable terminal 20.

Claims

1. A display processing system processing image data and displaying an image, comprising:

a portable terminal having an external communication function and equipped with a liquid crystal display;

a television monitor; and

a conversion adaptor capable of attaching said portable terminal thereto in a detachable manner, and connected to said television monitor, wherein

said portable terminal includes;

image data storage for storing image data obtained through communication and/or generated internally;

program data storage for storing program data;

a processor for carrying out predetermined processings in accordance with the program data stored in said program data storage; and

a liquid crystal display driver for driving, for display, said liquid crystal display,

said conversion adaptor including a video signal converter,

said processor, in accordance with said program data, carries out processing for processing the image data stored in said image data storage to generate image display data for each frame and switching a destination for supplying the generated image display data,

said liquid crystal display driver drives said liquid crystal display for display based on said image display data supplied from said processor,

said video signal converter converts, when said portable terminal is attached to said conversion adaptor, the image display data supplied from said processor into a video signal and outputs the video signal to said television monitor,

said television monitor displays an image in accordance with said video signal supplied from said video signal converter, and

wherein

said conversion adaptor further includes;

first temporary storage for temporarily storing the image display data supplied from said processor; and

a read controller for controlling timing for reading the image display data stored in said first temporary storage and outputting the image display data to said signal converter, wherein

said portable terminal further includes audio data storage for storing audio data obtained through communication and/or generated internally, and

said processor, in accordance with said program data, carries out processing for reading the audio data stored in said audio data storage in relation to timing for generating said image display data and switching a destination for supplying the read audio data in correspondence with the destination for said image display data.

2. The display processing system according to claim 1, wherein

said conversion adaptor further includes a recharger for recharging said portable terminal.

3. The display processing system according to claim 2, wherein

said conversion adaptor further includes:

a first housing accommodating at least said video signal converter; and

a second housing accommodating at least said recharger, and

said first and second housings are structured in a detachable manner from each other.

4. The display processing system according to claim 1, wherein

said processor supplies the image display data to said liquid crystal display driver when said portable terminal is not attached to said conversion adaptor, and supplies the image display data to at least said conversion adaptor when said portable terminal is attached to said conversion adaptor.

5. The display processing system according to claim 1, wherein

said portable terminal further includes:

a speaker; and

speaker driver for driving said speaker based on the audio data supplied from said processor,

said conversion adaptor further includes;

first temporary storage for temporarily storing the image display data supplied from said processor;

second temporary storage for temporarily storing the audio data supplied from said processor;

audio signal converter for converting the audio data stored in said second temporary storage into an audio signal and outputting the audio signal to said television monitor; and

a read controller for reading the image data stored in said first temporary storage and outputting the image data to said video signal converter, and reading the audio data stored in said second temporary storage and outputting the audio data to said audio signal converter, and

said read controller controls timing for reading the image display data from said first temporary storage and timing for reading the audio data from said second temporary storage so as to synchronize timing thereof.

6. The display processing system according to claim 1, wherein

said image data storage and said audio data storage each include readable/writable memory capable of reading and writing the image data and the audio data and are structured in a detachable manner from a body of the portable terminal.

7. The display processing system according to claim 1, wherein

said conversion adaptor is relationally connected with a first operator, and

said processor carries out processing made in response to an operation signal from said first operator.

8. The display processing system according to claim 7, wherein

said first operator is connected to said conversion adaptor wirelessly.

9. The display processing system according to claim 7, wherein

said portable terminal further comprises a second operator that is integrally structured to a body of the portable terminal, and

said processor carries out processing made in response to an operation signal from said second operator in addition to the operation signal from said first operator.

10. The display processing system according to claim 7, wherein

said processor transmits a control signal to said first operator.

11. A portable terminal detachable from a conversion adaptor connected to a television monitor and having an external communication function, comprising:

a liquid crystal display;

image data storage for storing image data obtained through communication and/or generated internally;

program data storage for storing program data;

a processor for carrying out predetermined processings in accordance with the program data stored in said program data storage; and

a liquid crystal display driver for driving, for display, said liquid crystal display, wherein

said processor, in accordance with said program data, carries out processing for processing the image data stored in said image data storage to generate image display data for each frame and switching a destination for supplying the generated image display data between said liquid crystal display driver and said conversion adaptor,

said liquid crystal display displays an image based on said image display data when the image display data is supplied to said liquid crystal display driver,

said television monitor displays the image when said image display data is supplied to said conversion adaptor, wherein

said processor, in accordance with said program data, supplies said image display data to said liquid crystal display driver when the portable terminal is not being attached to said conversion adaptor, and supplies said image display data to said conversion adaptor when being attached thereto,

and said portable terminal further comprising

audio data storage for storing audio data obtained through communication and/or generated internally, wherein

said processor, in accordance with said program data, carries out processing for reading the audio data stored in said audio data storage in relation to timing for generating said image display data and switching a destination for supplying the read audio data in correspondence with the destination for said image display data.

12. The portable terminal according to claim 11, wherein

said image data storage and said audio data storage each include readable/writable memory capable of reading and writing the image data and the audio data, and are structured in a detachable manner from a body of the portable terminal.

13. A conversion adaptor connected to a television monitor and capable of attaching a portable terminal thereto in a detachable manner, comprising

a video signal converter for converting image display data for each frame supplied from said portable terminal into a video signal and outputting the video signal to said television monitor,

first temporary storage for temporarily storing the image display data supplied from said portable terminal;

and

a read controller for controlling timing for reading the image display data stored in said first temporary storage and outputting the image display data to said signal converter;

second temporary storage for temporarily storing audio data supplied from said portable terminal;

an audio signal converter for converting the audio data stored in said second temporary storage into an audio signal and outputting the audio signal to said television monitor; and

a read controller for reading the image data stored in said first temporary storage and outputting the image display data to said video signal converter, and reading the audio data stored in said second temporary storage and outputting the audio data to said audio signal converter, wherein

said read controller controls timing for reading the image display data from said first temporary storage and timing for reading the audio data from said second temporary storage so as to synchronize the timing thereof.

14. The conversion adaptor according to claim 13, further comprising

a recharger for recharging said portable terminal.

15. The conversion adaptor according to claim 13, further comprising

an operator for supplying an operation signal to said portable terminal.

16. A display processing system processing image data and displaying an image, comprising:

a portable terminal having an external communication function and equipped with a liquid crystal display;

a television monitor; and

a conversion adaptor capable of attaching said portable terminal thereto in a detachable manner, and connected to said television monitor, wherein

said portable terminal includes;

image data storage for storing image data obtained through communication and/or generated internally;

program data storage for storing program data;

a processor for carrying out predetermined processings in accordance with the program data stored in said program data storage; and

a liquid crystal display driver for driving, for display, said liquid crystal display,

said conversion adaptor including a video signal converter,

said processor, in accordance with said program data, carries out processing for processing the image data stored in said image data storage to generate image display data for each frame and switching a destination for supplying the generated image display data,

said liquid crystal display driver drives said liquid crystal display for display based on said image display data supplied from said processor,

said video signal converter converts, when said portable terminal is attached to said conversion adaptor, the image display data supplied from said processor into a video signal and outputs the video signal to said television monitor,

said television monitor displays an image in accordance with said video signal supplied from said video signal converter, and

wherein

said conversion adaptor further includes;

first temporary storage for temporarily storing the image display data supplied from said processor; and

a read controller for controlling timing for reading the image display data stored in said first temporary storage and outputting the image display data to said signal converter, wherein

said conversion adaptor is relationally connected with a first operator, and

said processor carries out processing made in response to an operation signal from said first operator, wherein

said portable terminal further comprises a second operator that is integrally structured to a body of the portable terminal, and

said processor carries out processing made in response to an operation signal from said second operator in addition to the operation signal from said first operator.

17. A display processing system processing image data and displaying an image, comprising:

a portable terminal having an external communication function and equipped with a liquid crystal display;

a television monitor; and

a conversion adaptor capable of attaching said portable terminal thereto in a detachable manner, and connected to said television monitor, wherein

said portable terminal includes;

image data storage for storing image data obtained through communication and/or generated internally;

program data storage for storing program data;

a processor for carrying out predetermined processings in accordance with the program data stored in said program data storage; and

a liquid crystal display driver for driving, for display, said liquid crystal display,

said conversion adaptor including a video signal converter,

said processor, in accordance with said program data, carries out processing for processing the image data stored in said image data storage to generate image display data for each frame and switching a destination for supplying the generated image display data,

said liquid crystal display driver drives said liquid crystal display for display based on said image display data supplied from said processor,

said video signal converter converts, when said portable terminal is attached to said conversion adaptor, the image display data supplied from said processor into a video signal and outputs the video signal to said television monitor,

said television monitor displays an image in accordance with said video signal supplied from said video signal converter, and

wherein

said conversion adaptor further includes;

first temporary storage for temporarily storing the image display data supplied from said processor; and

a read controller for controlling timing for reading the image display data stored in said first temporary storage and outputting the image display data to said signal converter, wherein

said conversion adaptor is relationally connected with a first operator,

said processor carries out processing made in response to an operation signal from said first operator, wherein

said processor transmits a control signal to said first operator.